Aero submarine torpedo



Patented Apr. 2x0, 1920;

iwf/2 MTA/5885s #mC/@MM UNTTED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD AUGUSTUS RIER, OIE WESTBURY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TOLILLIAN R. MOSHER, 0F WESTBURY, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK.

AERO SUBMARINE TORPEDO.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Application led August 21, 1917. Serial No. 187,342.

full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to torpedoes and has particular reference to lnghexplosive devices adapted particularly for dropping from aeroplanes inattacks upon submerged submarines.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a torpedo comprising abody with a heavy point and having its base portion charged with anexplosive and equipped with means which after the torpedo enters thewater will have a tendency to retard the speed of the projectile.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a projectile calculated tobe delivered from a high elevation in the air and equipped with meansfor automatically causmg the rotation of a certain portion in a. certaindirection due to the movement through the air and having means forretarding and then reversing the speed of such part after the projectileenters the water for the purpose of effecting the firing of the chargeat a certain substantially determined depth beneath the surface of thewater.

Another object of the invention is to provide a torpedo designed to bedelivered at a high altitude in the air for the object of plunging intothe water, the device being provided with means operated auto1nat1-cally by movement through the atmosphere for insuring that the torpedoshall travel in a substantially straight course without tumbling and thesame means serving to initiate a rotary movement of a certain portion ofthe device at high speed while passing through the air, said automaticmeans, however, being calculated to be rendered inoperative whenstriking the water.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists inthe arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described andclaimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact detailsof construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose ofillustrating a'practical embodiment thereof reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate theSallie parts in the several views, and in which# Figure 1 is a verticallongitudinal section of my improvement with the movable parts in firingposition.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the base portion of my improvement showingmore -particularly the manner of construction and assemblage.

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2, but with the movable parts inposition in which they are set preparatory to the delivery of the devicefrom a high altitude or the position which the parts occupy while movingthrough the air.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3; and

Fi 5 is -a transverse sectional detail on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings I show a torpedocomprising a body l() having a solid or weighted pointed end 11 and arelatively hollow base portion 12. This. body portion 10 issubstantially straight except where it tapers into the weighted end andmay be of any suitable form in cross section. The cavity 12 may be ofany suitable extent longitudinally of the device, but indicated hereinas substantially coextensive with the base half of the device. The mainor central portion of this cavity is filled with any suitable highAexplosive 13 held within a shell `or hollow cylinder 14 having flangesl5 and 16 at its upper and lower ends serving to hold the main portionof the shell spaced inwardly from the inner wall of the cavity 12. Thisspace between the shell and the cavity wall iskdesig'ned to be filledwith balls 17 or the li e.

To the base end of the body (otherwise referred to herein as the upperend) is secured a hea-d 18 by any suitable means making a positive andfixed connection after the parts are assembled. This head has a centralhole into which is tapped at 19 the neck portion 20 of a collar member21 having a shoulder 22 fitted against a ange 23 immediately surroundingthe hole 19. A

`mit 211 is fitted upon the outer end of the neck 19 and serves to lockthe collar in fixed are both fixed to the spindle,

position in the head. The lower end of the collar projects into thecavity 12 of the body and is surrounded by the explosive 13.

The extreme lower end of the collar is tted with a -stationary cap 25shown as threaded thereupon and having a central hole or port 26. Thiscap is surrounded by a relatively small quantity of quick yexplosive 27,the same being held within a bag or casing 28 surrounding the cap 25.

The upper end or surface of the head 18 is recessed or (lished at 29,the nut 24 heilig located entirely within this recess.

At 30 I indicate a spindle journaled for free rotation in one directionwithin the collar 21 around the central axis of the entire device. Thelower end of the spindle lies close to the cap 25 and has a port 31registering with the port 26 and adjacent to which is located a primer32. This end of the spindle is connected with the sleeve throughanti-friction bearings 33. The outer surface of the lock nut 24 isprovided with a raceway for antifrictionballs 34 with which coperates abearing ring 35 threaded upon the upper end of the spindle and locked inposition by lneans of a lock nut 36, the ring and the nut last mentionedbeing both located within the recess 29 and below the plane of the upperedge of the head 18. The bearings 33 and 34 insure the adaptability ofthe spindle for free rotation within the limits contemplated by thisinvention. Next adjacent to the lock nut 36 are fitted upon the upperend of the spindle two propellers 37 and 38, the former being just aboutone half within the recess 29 and the other half above the recess, butwith the blades not projecting beyond the recess laterally so that whilethe torpedo is traveling through the air the propeller 37 will befunctionless. The blades of the other propeller, however, extendlaterally far beyond the head 18. The blades of the two propellers arereversely arranged, that is to say, with the blades of the propeller 38arranged as indicated, the latter may serve to rota-te the spindle andthe other parts connected thereto at high speed in a counter clock-wisedirection as viewed by the person who delivers the same from theaeroplane or other elevated position, while the blades of the smallerlower propeller 37 are arranged so as to tend to rotate the spindle inan opposite or clockwise direction. These propellers, however, as forexample, by means of their threaded hubs and outside lock nut 39. Theupper propeller 38 being largerthan the lower and being more fullyexposed to the air obviously will predominate over the lower propellerwhile passing through the air and hence will cause the positive rotationof the -spindle in a left or counter clock-wise direction. The blades,however, of the upper lpropeller' are calcuspindle.

lated to snap ofi', being made 'of wood or other breakable material,when the torpedo strikes the water the impact of the water being so muchmore severe upon the blades than'the resistance of the atmosphere. Itwill now be seen, therefore, that the propeller 38 will serve to rot-atethe spindle in one direction within the collar 21 carrying the propeller37 therewith in a direction opposed to the direction of the latter andthat the propeller will tend to be rotated by the medium though whichthe device is passing. When the propeller blades 38 are broken oil thepropeller 37, by virtue of the direction of rotation imparted to it,while the device is passing through the air, will so act upon the wateras to retard and stop the rotation of the spindle before the devicetravels many feet through the water. It is not intended for thepropeller 37 to stop the torpedo and, therefore, while 'the torpedocontinues to move through the water after the rotation of the spindlehas momentarily ceased, the water acting upon the propeller 37 willlinally cause said propeller to rotate in a clock-wise direction asindicated by the arrow on Fig. 5.

The spindle is centrally and longitudinally bored at 40 to receive a twopart lining 41. The lower end of this lining is designed to hold theprimer 32 which is projected into an extension 40 of the bore 40. In theupL per end of the lining is iitted a bearing block 42 in which isadapted to reciprocate a ry plug 46 is tapped into the upper end of thespindle which holds the lining and bearing block in fixed position, theou-ter end of the block being flush with the upper end of the A strongexpansion spring 47 is coiled around the iii-ing pin between the bearingblock 42 and the lower end of the pin which is calculated to impingeagainst, the primer when the spring 47 is permitted to be expanded.

In setting the device preparatory for delivery the operator grasps theknob 44 and draws the firing pin upward against the force of the spring47 until the groove 45 appears above the block 42, at which time akeeper 48 will snap into the groove 45 under the force of a resilientrocker 49 located in a double tapered channel 50 formed longitudinallyin one side of the spindle. The keeper 48 is held from radial slidingmovement with respect to the axis of the firing pin as by means of pinsor screws 51 extending through parallel slots 52 formed in the keeper.See Fig. 4. The channel 50 and the rocker 49 are so designed as to causethe keeper to remain or tend to remain in the groove 45 to hold thefiring pin in set position. As it will be noted especially in suchrotation.

Fig. 3, the rocker 49 acts in the nature of a lever of the first classwith the fulcrum thereof at the narrowest portion of the channel 50 andwith the lower end of the lever projected through the keeper 48. Iprovide also an auxiliary or safety keeper 53 adapted to be manipulatedby the operator on the opposite side of the firing pin and coperatingwith the same groove 45 when it is desired to positively insure thedevice against premature f discharge. Obviously, however, when thedevice is delivered for effective operation the trigger 53 is withdrawn.from the ring pin.

The lower end of the channel 50 communicates with or merges into a pit54 which lies, generally speaking, in a plane perpendicular to the axisof the torpedo. The side walls of the pit may be dened by verticalplanes which converge and meet outside of the spindle. In other wordsthe pit is of 'approximately triangular form as viewed in `plan in Fig.5 and where the planes of the side walls thereof intersect the surfaceof the spindle there is formed an opening in which is located a dog 55having a stem 56 slidably fitted in a sleeve 57 located in the pitagainst the outer wall thereof. The lower end of the rocker 49' bearsnormally against the inner end of the sleeve 57 and holds the sleeve inthe position indicated. A spring 58 acts normally upon the dog to holdthe dog projected or so that it may be projected into one of severalnotches 59 formed in the inner wall of the collar 21. The movement,however, of the dog is limited by means of a pin 60 extending looselythrough the sleeve and stem 56 and spanning the pit 54. While thespindle is being rotated in counter clock-wise direction by operation ofthe propeller 38`the dog will be forced inwardly against the spring 58by reason of the rounded outer face of the dog riding against the innerwall of the collar` and no material resistance will be set up therebytending to interfere with When, however, the blades of the propeller 38are broken off and the other propeller 37 effects a reverse rotation ofthe spindle as above set forth the dog will immediately enter one of thenotches 59, the point of the dog striking against the undercut shoulderat the end of the notch which will act as a fulcrum while the force ofthe propeller will tend to rotate the spindle and trigger devices in thedirection of the arrow on Fig. 5. (The collar 21 vand the device as aWhole having norotation around its axis). The inner end of the sleevewill be forced radially toward the center of the firing pin carryingwith it the lower end of the rocker and causing the withdrawal of thekeeper 48 from its holding position, thus setting free the firing pin.It is contemplated that the character of the explosive, if tired at anyreasonable distance from the submarine, will have the effect of wreckingthe same. If, however, the torpedo strikes the submarine prior to theexplosion of the torpedo the submerged vessel will be destroyed whetherthe torpedo explodes or not.

1. The herein described torpedo comprising a body having a cavity, anexplosive in the cavity, firing devices to ignite the explosive, saidfiring devices including a member adapted to rotate, means connected tothe member to cause rotationthereof in one direction during a portion ofthe travel of the torpedo, and other means connected to the member tocause rotation thereof in the opposite direction during another portionof the travel of the torpedo.

2. The herein described torpedo designed to be delivered from a highaltitude to be exploded beneath the surface of the Water, the samecomprising a body, an explosive carried within the body, firing devicescalculated to ignite the explosive beneath the surface of the Water,said firing devices including a member adapted to rotate around an axisparallel to the path ofthe torpedo,

means to rotate said member in one direcand trigger devices so arrangedas to effect the firing of the explosive only as a result of the torpedoentering the water.

3. In a torpedo designed to be delivered through the air for explosionbeneath the surface of the water, the combination of a body having acavity, an explosive carried within the cavity', a head fixed upon thebody and holding the explosive 1n place, arotary member journaled insaidhead, firing devices for the explosive carried in and rotatable withthe spindle, and means connected to the end of the spindle outside ofthe head serving to cause rotation of the spindle in opposite directionsin alternation.

4. In a torpedo of the class set forth, the combination with a bodyhaving a cavity,

an explosive carried in the cavity, a bear-.i

ing collar fixed to the body, a spindle journaled in and extendingthrough the collar, firing devices for the explosive carried by thespindle, means acting upon the spindle to cause successive rotationthereof in opposite directions before and after the torpedo enters thewater, and means whereby the rotation of the spindle in the collar inone direction will eifect the firing of the explosive, while therotation of the spindle in the opposite direction is without sucheffect.

5. In a torpedo, the combination of a body having a cavity, an explosivein the cavity, a closure for the cavity holding the explosive inplace, abearing member fitted in the closure and held from rotation with respectto the body, a spindle journaled in the bearing member, firing devicesassoci ated with the spindle, and means connected to the spindle toeffect the rotation thereof in the firing direction after the torpedo venters the Water, such effect resulting from the fact of the sameentering the Water.

6. In a torpedo, the combination with a body, an explosive within thebody and firing devices for the explosive including a movable member,means connected to the movable member tending to operate the same inopposite directions, a portion of such moving means being effectiveWhile the torpedo is moving in the air, but being destroyed when thetorpedo strikes the Water when the other moving means becomes active,and trigger devices made operative by the reversal of movement of saidVmovable member.

- 7. In means for firing torpedoes, the combination of relatively fixedand rotary membersafpair of propellers fixed to the rotary member andcalculated to rotate the same in opposite directions, one propellerbeing larger than the other and effective While the torpedo is movingthrough the air, and being functionless after the torpedo strikes thewater permitting the other .pro-

peller to operate, and trigger devices made operative by reversal ofmovement of the rotary member.

8. In a torpedo, the combination of a torpedo, a head fixed to the body,an explosive within the body, the head having an exterior recess, aspindle journaled in the head coaxially with said recess, a propellerfixed to the outer end of the spindle ,and projecting beyond the headwhereby the spindle is adapted to be rotated in a certain direction,an'- other propeller fixed to the spindle between the larger propellerand the head and projecting into the recess, the latter propellertending to rotate the spindle in the oppo-v site direction afterentering the water, and trigger devices for firing the explosive asaresult of the reversal of movement of the spindle.

9. In a torpedo, the combination of a body, a head fixed to the body, anexplosive Within the body, a spindle journaled for rotation in the-head, means to rotate the spindle at high speed While the torpedo ispassing through the air, means connected to the spindle to automaticallyretard and then reverse the rotation thereof after the torpedo entersthe water, and trigger devices to fire the explosive as a result of suchreversal of rotation of the` spindle.

ED'WARD AUGUSTUS RIDER.

